Eating healthy requires the intake of nutrients. There are thousands of nutrients with specific functions. While there are eleven essential nutrients that the body must intake each day, which are, carbohydrates, protein, fat, water, vitamins, minerals, calcium sodium, potassium, Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Vitamin D. Nutrients provide the body with nourishment, that is essential for your life’s maintenance and growth.
To replenish the essential nutrients, you should consume,
1. Fruits and vegetables.which contain carbohydrates which are the source of glucose, the fuel for the brain and body, which stabilizes blood sugar levels and preserves muscle mass.
2. Meat, eggs, dairy, nuts, and beans which contain protein which builds and repairs tissues, forms muscle and is essential for bones cartilage, skin, blood, enzymes and hormones.
3. Nuts, avocados, salmon, olive oil, nut butter, which contains unsaturated fat which contains unsaturated fats that reduce the risk of heart disease and lowers cholesterol levels.
4. Fruits and vegetables have higher water content. Hydration is more critical to sustaining life than the food itself. Water is up to seventy-five percent of the body’s mass.
5. Fruits and vegetables contain all the essential vitamins.
6. Eating a nutritious diet will provide your minerals.
7. Dairy products, leafy greens, white beans, and some types of fish are essential for calcium for healthy bones and teeth.
8. Seeds, nuts, vegetables, meats, grains, and legumes contain sodium which regulated both blood volume and fluid balance.
9. Fruits and vegetable including spinach, tomatoes, potatoes, avocados, salmon and sweet potatoes which are good sources of potassium which helps maintain fluid balance, blood pressure and necessary for muscle contraction.
10. Fatty fish, such as salmon, mackerel, and sardines, are the best source of omega-3 fatty acids which optimizes brain health and prevents heart disease.
11. Mushrooms, eggs and fish and exposure to sunlight which are sources of Vitamin D that is said to strengthen the immune system, influence muscle function, prevent osteoporosis.
The purpose of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) or the digestive system is to break down food into nutrients with the help of secreted enzymes, which act as a catalyst to increase the rate digestion. The GIT has also been referred to as the gut. The body absorbs the nutrients which provide the body its energy
The GIT is a hollow muscular tube which is separated by different structures and functions, starting at the
- Mouth or oral cavity,
- Then through the Pharynx (throat), that is part of the digestive and respiratory systems.
- Through the esophagus which is the gullet, connecting the throat to the stomach and then
- To the intestines, to the rectum and the anus which disgorges the processed food.
Historically imbalances in the stomach or a gut disorder were considered a cause of disease, referred to as hypochondriasis. While that prognosis was deemed to be questionable, medicine is investigating the possibility that a dysfunctional GIT could be the source of some chronic diseases.
A leaky gut is caused by fluids passing through the walls of the GIT, The GIT may have significant holes or cracks. If this occurs, the digestive process is harmed which allows food which is only partially digested and toxins to pass into the bloodstream and into the abdominal cavity which houses the GIT. The GIT is sealed from the bloodstream. The symptoms of fluid leakage include inflammation and a modification of the normal intestinal bacteria (flora). This bacteria helps in the digestion of vitamins and protect the intestine from bacteria the causes disease because of the overgrowth of the bacteria.
Other than holes or cracks, a leaky gut can be caused by a diet which is low in fiber, high in sugar and saturated fat, which is the typical American diet. Alcohol abuse and stress may also disrupt the GIT. Common diseases which are a result of a leaky gut are celiac disease, Chron’s disease, and irritable bowel syndrome. Research has suggested that lupus, type 1 diabetes, and multiple sclerosis may also be linked to this disorder. A regulated diet which controls food intake that causes allergies and foods that are inflammatory have been developed by treating physicians. There are no standard medicines to treat this disorder.